Seeking any
kind of restitution or other settlement from agent, outfitter
or guide? no

If Seeking Restitution, What is Sought?

ADDITIONAL
HUNTER COMMENTS AND/OR OUTFITTER/BOOKING AGENT REBUTTAL

I took my family on this hunt, including 3 yr old girl and 5 yr old boy. We hunted three different areas. I've hunted with Russ several times and as always, the hunting was great. He has access to the best areas. I was only looking for a few animals on this trip as it was more focused on the family. We made time to visit Addo National Park and teach the 5 year old to shoot for the first time. All accommodations were comfortable. Russ was great with the added challenges of having young kids along on the hunt and was patient and accommodating. The entire family had a great trip.

I recently completed a plains game hunt with Safari Trails International in the East Cape of Africa. In one short word I'd describe the hunt experience and stay at Majiki Lodge as FANTASTIC! Despite having traveled extensively and hunted many other locations and game, this has been, by a wide margin, the most extraordinary hunting trip of my life. It is an extraordinary location to visit. My hunting friend and I will surely return again and I highly recommend Safari International with Russell Lovemore and his team. It is important for me to let other hunters and travelers know about this amazing hunting safari opportunity and travel location. I give this my highest rating and recommendation. I invite anyone to contact me on this recommendation and I can provide more information. My email address is dkkaiser@tds.net and my name is Dan Kaiser. So, what characteristics of the experience lead me to form my strong endorsement and compel me to take the time to write a review? There are many. 1. Planning the trip was easy thanks to the very knowledgeable and well-seasoned owner/operator/head Professional Hunter, Russell Lovemore. During the research and planning stage of the hunting safari and trip, I was very impressed with the level of responsiveness and depth of information provided by the owner, Russell Lovemore. His high level of professionalism and depth of knowledge quickly began to show. Selecting Safari Trails International seemed like the clear best choice. And now that the trip is complete, I can confirm with experience that Russell Lovemore, Majiki Lodge, and the hunting offered by Safari International are gems to be experienced in South Africa. The pre-travel advice provided by Russell on many subjects was provided quickly and was shortly revealed to be very sound advice on every aspect. I probably drove him mad with my many emails with one battery of questions after the next. But he always responded in a timely manner and with practical, valuable responses. He had connections and recommendations for travel agents, airlines, weapon transfer services, and many other elements. Russell is a true hunting expert and top-tier Professional Hunter as noted below, and has an incredible ranch to hunt, but he also is very adept at understanding it is the complete package of advice, support, communications, accommodations, transportation, meals and general service are vital. And Julie runs a first-rate dip-and-pack operation to make sure you return home with perfect trophies. Russell and his wife Julie are clearly very thoughtful and thorough as they have created an environment and experience excellent in every possible dimension. 2. The hunting was exhilarating. At 46 years old, I have hunted over 35 years now and I have not trembled from the excitement of a trophy animal moving toward my position since I was young. I forgot the intensity and magic that can be felt. I now realize I have grown comfortable in hunting deer, bear, elk and the like. The return to heart thumping, breath stopping experiences of my younger years hunting was renewing and rejuvenated. The diversity of game animals and hunting options is endless. We had success both archery hunting and rifle hunting. To get the full experience, we stalked animals and sat. It is a hunt of dreams and a lifetime. That feeling of elation and awe is priceless--a richer man you can not be. 3. The serenity, peacefulness and beauty of the location is stunning. Incredible gardens and manicured lawns are an oasis around the lodge that sits within thousands of acres of African wilderness that is teeming with exotic flora and fauna. Even after traveling to many corners of the globe, I have never witnessed such a magnificent range of game animals and colorful birds---and in vast numbers. I will never forget watching black wildebeest play in the plains while a group of impala grazed peacefully nearby as the sun slowly peered over the eastern horizon illuminating a few wispy clouds into a palate of color that would capture the eye of the best artists and poets. It is rare that you feel your soul has been so connected to nature. 4. Russell and Julie created a comfortable, yet museum-like lodge---very African in feel, but accommodations as comfortable as any top-tier resort. Rooms are cleaned by friendly staff, gardens are continuously manicured and sport a wide display of beautiful plants, fantastic meals are prepared by an experienced chef and any need you have is met. Julie and Russell are charming and make you feel at home. The feeling in the lodge is comfortable, warm and immeasurably relaxing. I am an avid and focused hunter, yet I chose to spend one day in the lodge and patio area fully enjoying the ambiance, reading, sipping coffee and listening to music. The two ranch dogs, friendly and loving, added yet another dimension of charm. 5. Russell and Julie, and an additional PH, Anton Bester were incredible hosts, utmost professionals and as fun as people can be sipping wine and beer in the evenings by the glowing fire. Many stories, jokes and laughter filled the vaulted ceiling and echoed in the rafters each evening. Fast friends we all became. And while new friends they are today, I suspect lifelong, dear friends they will become. 6. First-class hunting professionals made for the perfect hunt. The high level of knowledge, skill and experience Russell and Anton possess, I have never experienced. They know the behaviors of each species, the impact of all weather and environmental conditions on the animals, are experts in weaponry (archery and rifle), are seasoned educators in their trade and make all who come better hunters. We stalked animals, used blinds, and used other techniques. The variety and action was fantastic. I also thoroughly enjoyed learning all about the region, it's people, animals, flora and culture. They are true renaissance men. 7. The combination of adventure, relaxation and sight-seeing options is extensive. One can have a classic, rugged African hunt, enjoy a photography safari on the farm or nearby, world-class animal preserves, see amazing ocean front of the Indian Ocean or the high energy of Port Elizabeth. I am a hunter and focused most of my time on hunting out of this world-class lodge. But my short visit into Port Elizabeth and surrounding locations was enough to know my next visit will include my wife. She is not a hunter, but enjoys exquisite beauty, fine foods, and traveling to excellent locations. I missed my wife and family being away for two weeks, and thus was eager to return home. But at the same time, I felt sad to leave the sanctity of Majiki Lodge and say goodbye to my new friends. I take home 7 trophy animals, lifelong memories, amazing pictures and the strong desire to plan my return to this African oasis that delivers the true African hunting experience of dreams. Daniel K Kaiser Dkkaiser@tds.net

My wife Cindy and I had a great time and our first South African hunt was awesome. We had a great time and wouldn't have to worry about where we would go next time because the choice would be the same.

Physical Condition:

Not bad but a little over weight and have asthma.

IMPORTANT
NOTES (actions taken if hunter unhappy with hunt)

Notified Outfitter?

Notified Personal Guide?

Notified Booking Agent?

Seeking any
kind of restitution or other settlement from agent, outfitter
or guide?

If Seeking Restitution, What is Sought?

ADDITIONAL
HUNTER COMMENTS AND/OR OUTFITTER/BOOKING AGENT REBUTTAL

Our flight was to Port Elizabeth where we were picked up by Russell and he handled getting our guns. We then went to the lodge where we got ready for our hunt to start the fallowing day. Everything from then on was great we got all the animals that were on our package plus one additional which I chose. I would recommend Safari Trails International to anyone interested in a Africa hunt they are a very class operation. Gerry and Cindy Wall

Eland, Cape - Availability: Stalked several herds with good bulls, just not the one we were looking for.

Steenbok - Availability:

Game
Condition Comments:

Abundant and in good condition.

SERVICE
RATINGS (excellent, good, fair or poor)

Quality
of Outfit:

Excellent

Guide/PH
Ability:

Excellent

Condition
of Camp:

Excellent

Condition
of Equipment:

Excellent

Quality
of Food:

Excellent

Trophy
Care:

Excellent

Name
of Airline:

South African Airlines

Airline
Service:

Good

Airline
Comments:

No problems with SAA on this trip.

COSTS

Hunting
Fees:

Amount:

$0

Trophy Fees:

Amount:

$0

Permits/Licenses:

Amount:

$0

Commercial
Airfares:

Amount:

$0

Charter Airfares:

Amount:

$0

Other Costs:

Amount:

$0

Total:

$0

SUMMARY
REMARKS

Problems
of Hunt:

No problems other than a bit of rain and trying to squeeze too much into a 7 day hunt.

Highlights
of Hunt:

The aardwolf, bat eared fox, and grysbok are hunted at night which is a different experience for some very unique animals.

Equipment
Recommendations:

Would You
Recommend This Hunt to a Friend?

Yes

Why?

This is our second trip with Russ Lovemore and we had a great time as expected. The best part of the Eastern Cape is that we can return for a third time and not hunt any animals from the first two trips.

Seeking any
kind of restitution or other settlement from agent, outfitter
or guide?

If Seeking Restitution, What is Sought?

ADDITIONAL
HUNTER COMMENTS AND/OR OUTFITTER/BOOKING AGENT REBUTTAL

Russ is the owner and PH for Safari Trails International. He makes every effort to give clients the type of experience they want. He is able to secure some of the more difficult permits to hunt aardwolf, fox, oribi, blue duiker. We hunted his farm for black wildebeest and surrounding farms for warthog, bush duiker, kudu, bushbuck, aardwolf and fox. We traveled an hour to Port Alfred to hunt blue duiker and oribi on an incredible farm overlooking the Indian Ocean. We then moved to another large ranch in the mountains ~3 hours away to hunt black & white springbuck, cape eland, grysbok, and steenbuck.

Seeking any
kind of restitution or other settlement from agent, outfitter
or guide?

If Seeking Restitution, What is Sought?

ADDITIONAL
HUNTER COMMENTS AND/OR OUTFITTER/BOOKING AGENT REBUTTAL

When you go on a hunt it can be fulfilling or a nightmare. Russ is very professional and had all details taken care of. Knowing that I don't hunt high fence he made sure we hunted only that. Also Jim Shockey enjoyed his hunts and so does Craig Boddington whom recommended him to me.

Seeking any
kind of restitution or other settlement from agent, outfitter
or guide?

If Seeking Restitution, What is Sought?

ADDITIONAL
HUNTER COMMENTS AND/OR OUTFITTER/BOOKING AGENT REBUTTAL

Russ Lovemore owns Safari Trails International and was our PH. This was a great first experience hunting Africa. Russ hunts his own property and has access to many more giving the hunter options to hunt varied terrain and species. We hunted open plains for springbok, thick coastal brush for blue duiker and in the mountains for Vaal rhebok and mountain reedbuck. I'm planning a trip back with Russ next year to hunt different species found in the Eastern Cape.

All the game are there in great numbers. They have access to some of the best in Eastern Cape, as far as I can judge. You can pretty much expect to get a chance on whatever you wish for.

SERVICE
RATINGS (excellent, good, fair or poor)

Quality
of Outfit:

Excellent

Guide/PH
Ability:

Excellent

Condition
of Camp:

Excellent

Condition
of Equipment:

Excellent

Quality
of Food:

Excellent

Trophy
Care:

Excellent

Name
of Airline:

Air France and South African Airways.

Airline
Service:

Good

Airline
Comments:

COSTS

Hunting
Fees:

Amount:

$3420

Trophy Fees:

Amount:

$0

Permits/Licenses:

Amount:

$0

Commercial
Airfares:

Amount:

$1100

Charter Airfares:

Amount:

$0

Other Costs:

Amount:

$0

Total:

$0

SUMMARY
REMARKS

Problems
of Hunt:

No problems whatsoever.

Highlights
of Hunt:

Taking my vaal rhebok after three days in the mountains (they are difficult). Blue duiker with shotgun was great, and the night-hunt for grysbok was very interesting and different.

Equipment
Recommendations:

A bipod might come in handy, especially after vaal rhebok and mountain reedbuck in the mountains, but also for the grazers like springbok and black wildebeest.

Would You
Recommend This Hunt to a Friend?

Yes

Why?

This is my third trip, and the best one so far. We hunted hard all ten days, on average 10-12 hours a day. It's better to be out hunting during midday than sitting in camp, even if it's not the best time of the day. You won't shoot anything in camp. All the staff went that extra mile to insure our satisfaction. This was great hunting as well. Very ethical and challenging.